How to use
- Take the medicine orally.
- Take the medicine with or without food.
Recommended amount:
Always take this medicine exactly as your doctor has told you. The usual recommended dose is as follows:
- Adult
- Peptic ulcer (gastric and duodenal ulcers) : 20 mg twice a day or 40 mg once a day (at night).
*Maintenance dose or treatment of peptic ulcer recurrence : 20 mg once a day (at night)
- Indigestion (heartburn): 10-20 mg once daily before meals.
- Excessive secretion of stomach acid ( Zollinger-Ellison syndrome ) : 20 mg every six hours, if necessary, the dose may be increased by a doctor’s diagnosis.
- Reflux (return of stomach acid into the esophagus ): 20 mg (2.5 ml) twice a day.
- In cases of severe esophagitis caused by acid reflux : The dosage can be adjusted by the doctor to 20-40 mg twice a day.
- Children
- Peptic ulcer : 20 mg twice daily or 40 mg once daily (at night) for 4-8 weeks
- Excessive secretion of stomach acid ( Zollinger-Ellison syndrome ) :
20 mg every six hours, if necessary, the dose may be increased by a doctor’s diagnosis.
Children over 12 years of age and adolescents: 10 to 20 mg every 12 hours; maximum daily dose: 40 mg.
- Reflux (return of stomach acid into the esophagus ):
Infants ≥3 months, children and adolescents ≤16 years: 0.5 mg/dose twice daily; maximum dose: 40 mg
Warnings and precautions
- Before taking this medicine, consult your doctor if you have any of the following conditions:
- Possibility of malignant tumor in the abdomen
- The presence of an underlying infection such as Helicobacter pylori
- Kidney and liver problems
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding
- If you have lactose intolerance (famotidine contains lactose).
- If you accidentally take more than the prescribed dose, go to the nearest medical center as soon as possible with the medicine blister.
- If you forget to take a dose, take the medicine if it is not time for the next dose, but if it is time for the next dose, do not double the dose and take only the next dose as usual.
If you feel dizzy or lightheaded, avoid driving or doing anything that requires alertness and attention.
Drug interactions
Consult your doctor if you are taking any of the following medications :
- Ketoconazole, itraconazole, dasatinib, calcium carbonate, erlotinib, nilotinib, tizanidine, probenecid, antacids, sucralfate, atazanavir
Contraindications
Avoid taking famotidine if:
- History of allergy to famotidine or any of the product’s excipients
- Sensitivity to other H2 receptor antagonist drugs
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
Pregnancy:
Famotidine crosses the placenta. If you are pregnant or think you may be pregnant, consult your doctor before taking this medicine.
Breastfeeding:
Famotidine is found in breast milk. If you are breast-feeding, consult your doctor before taking this medicine.
Side effects
- Every medicine, along with its desired therapeutic effects, may cause some unwanted side effects. Although not all of these side effects are seen in one person, see a doctor immediately if any of the following symptoms occur:
- Allergic reactions: swelling of the face, throat, or tongue, difficulty breathing, or dizziness (anaphylaxis)
- Difficulty breathing or wheezing (bronchospasm)
- Severe blistering of the skin, mouth, eyes, and genitals (Stevens Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis)
- Shortness of breath or dry cough due to inflammation of the lungs (pneumonia)
- Swelling of the deeper layers of the skin due to fluid accumulation (angioedema)
- See a doctor if any of the following symptoms persist:
Common side effects:
Dizziness, headache, diarrhea, constipation
Other side effects :
Fatigue, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, taste disturbance, abdominal pain, bloating, dry mouth, severe itching, skin rash with hives, increased liver enzymes, decreased blood cells, anxiety, restlessness, depression, joint pain, hair loss, muscle cramps, irregular heart rhythm, sleep problems, decreased libido.
How to maintain:
- Keep the medicine out of the sight and reach of children.
- Avoid taking expired medications.
- Store the medicine at a temperature below 30 degrees Celsius, away from light and frost.
